Browsing by Author "QUANSAH, FESTUS BREW"

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    PROSPECTS OF ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE MODEL IN GHANA
    ( August 2015 ) QUANSAH, FESTUS BREW
    In its 58 year history as a country, Ghana has operated the conventional banking model (i.e interest-based banking). It is however in the process of moving towards a „dual banking system‟ with the emergence of the Islamic Banking and Finance model (i.e. non-interest banking) in the global economy as a viable alternative of financial services provision and calls made to regularise the model in Ghana‟s financial system. This research work attempts an ex ante assessment to provide empirical evidence on the viability or prospects of the model in the near, medium and long term. It therefore uses a mixed method and exploratory case study strategy to draw on four critical perspectives to reach its conclusion: perspective of bankers (level of knowledge on the IBF model and outlook on its viability), support institution (outlook and role), regulation and supervision and macroeconomic trends. The findings show that currently knowledge of bankers on Islamic financing contracts are low. Moreover perceptions of bankers sampled show they are not optimistic about the viability of the model in the near to medium term. Findings from the support institution of IBF practice in Ghana vis a vis bankers‟ perception shows mixed prospects for the model in the near to medium term. Full regulation of the model is also yet to be put in place. In terms of the trend of macroeconomic indicators in Ghana used for the research (i.e. interest rates and inflation rates) it is seen that the model has poor prospects in the near to medium term. Given an aggregate of findings from these perspectives, the researcher concludes that the prospects of the IBF model in the near to medium term is poor. However, in the long term, there could be space for changes that could make the prospects good once it is regularised in Ghana.